Device for joining canvas boards

ABSTRACT

A device for joining one canvas board having a freshly painted surface to another board in spaced, substantially parallel relation thereto and protecting the freshly painted surface. A clip member in the form of a channel member is adapted to be fitted over an edge of one of the boards and an elongated spacer member is mounted on the clip member, in particular being secured at one end to a flange of the channel member, and is disposed so as to extend in a direction away from and generally perpendicular to the plane of the one canvas board. A pin member is secured to and extends from the spacer member in a direction away from and generally perpendicular to the plane of the one board and is adapted to be driven into the other board. Several devices, for example four, are used to join two canvas boards.

United States Patent [191 Gross 1 1 DEVICE FOR JOINING CANVAS BOARDS[76] Inventor: Edward F. Gross, 456 Capen Blvd.,

Eggertsville, NY. 14226 [22] Filed: July 11, 1972 [21] Appl. No.:270,664

[52] US. Cl 24/85 R, 52/683, 248/216 [51] Int. Cl A44b 21/00 [58] Fieldof Search 24/85 R, 85 A, 85 B, 73 B, 24/73 P, 81 B; 248/494, 216; 16/86R;

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,632,761 6/1927 Clark24/85 R 2,101,378 12/1937 Wiskoff 24/85 B 3,198,244 8/1965 Mairson n24/85 R 1,496,533 6/1924 Eyster 248/494 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS674,787 10/1929 France 24/85 R [451 Jan, 29, 1974 Primary Examiner-BobbyR. Gay Assistant Examiner-Kenneth J. Dorner Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Christel & Bean [57] 7 ABSTRACT A device for joining one canvasboard having a freshly painted surface to another board in spaced,substantially parallel relation thereto and protecting the freshlypainted surface. A clip member in the form of a channel member isadapted to be fitted over an edge of one of the boards and an elongatedspacer member is mounted on the clip member, in particular being securedat one end to a flange of the channel member, and is disposed so as toextend in a direction away from and generally perpendicular to the planeof the one canvas board. A pin member is secured to and extends from thespacer member in a direction away from and generally perpendicular tothe plane of the one board and is adapted to be driven into the otherboard. Several devices, for example four, are used to join two canvasboards.

10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures DEVICE FOR JOINING CANVAS BOARDS BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION This invention relates to devices used by artisticpainters, and more particularly to a new and improved device for joiningone canvas board having a freshly painted surface to another board inspaced relation to protect the painted surface.

When an artist has finished painting on a canvas board, it is importantto protect the freshly painted surface while it is drying as the canvasboard is transported and stored. This can be done by devices for joiningone canvas board having a freshly painted surface to another canvasboard in spaced, substantially parallel relation thereto and protectingthe freshly painted surface. It is important that such devices beeffective in joining the two canvas boards and at the same time be easyto install. Furthermore, in many but not all instances the two canvasboards will have the same size and shape, so it is desirable that suchdevices be capable of joining canvas boards of the same as well asdifferent sizes and shapes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of the presentinvention to provide a new and improved device for joining one canvasboard to another board in spaced, substantially parallel relationthereto and protecting the freshly painted surface.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a devicewhich is effective in joining the two boards and at the same time iseasy to install or apply.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a devicewhich is capable of joining boards having the same as well as differentsizes and shapes.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a device whichis simple in construction and easy and economical to manufacture.

The present invention provides a device for joining one canvas boardhaving a freshly painted surface to another board in spaced,substantially parallel relation thereto and protecting the freshlypainted surface. The device comprises a clip member adapted to be fittedover an edge of one of the boards, a spacer member secured to andextending out from the clip member, and a pin member secured to andextending out from the spacer member and adapted to be driven into theother board. Several devices are used at corresponding locations spacedaround the boards.

The foregoing and additional advantages and characterizing features ofthe present invention will become clearly apparent upon a reading of theensuing detailed description together with the included drawing wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWIN FIGURES FIG. I is a perspective viewshowing a device according to the present invention as it would appearin use joining two boards of substantially the same size;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the device of FIG. I joining arelatively small board to a relatively larger board;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the device of FIG. I joining tworectangular boards disposed in different directions;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the device of FIG. 1 joining twoboards to a third board;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a device according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view thereof; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken about about on line 8-8 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT Referring now to thedrawing a device I0 according to the present invention is shown in FIG.1 as it would appear in use joining together two canvas boards ll, 12 ofsubstantially the same size. Preferably four devices 10 are used, eachbeing positioned adjacent one of the corners. Device 10 can be used withequal ease and effectiveness in joining one relatively small canvasboard 13 to a relatively larger canvas board 14 as shown in FIG. 2, orin joining two rectangular shaped canvas boards l5, 16 disposed indifferent directions as shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 shows the manner inwhich device 10 is used to join two canvas boards l7, 18 to a thirdcanvas board 19.

Referring now to FIG. 5-8, device 10 comprises a clip member 22 adaptedto be fitted over an edge of one of the canvas boards. Clip member 22 isin the form of a channel member having a base 24 and a pair of flangemembers 25, 26 extending from base 24. The distance between flangemembers 25, 26 measured adjacent base 24 is not less than the thicknessof the canvas boards measured at the peripheral edge thereof, andaccording to a preferred mode of the present invention this distancebetween flanges 25, 26 is about seven eights of an inch. Each flangemember 25 and 26 is disposed so as to define with base 24 an angleslightly less than ninety degrees for a purpose which will be described.In addition, one of the flange members, in the present illustrationflange 26, is formed with a portion 28 between the ends thereof disposedso as to define with base 24 an angle of ninety degrees. Flange members25 and 26 preferably are bent outwardly at the corner of each at one endof clip member 22 to provide tabs 30 and 31, respectively, to facilitatefitting clip member 22 onto' an edge of a canvas board as will bedescribed in detail presently. Each tab 30, 31 defines an acute anglewith the plane of the flange member 25, 26 from which it is formed, andeach tab extends in a direction away from both flanges 25, 26 and awayfrom base 24.

Device 10 further comprises a spacer member 34 mounted on clip member 22and disposed so as to extend in a direction away from or out from clipmember 22 and generally perpendicular to the plane of the canvas boardon which clip member 22 is fitted. Spacer member 34 is elongated havingplanar, mutually parallel end surfaces 36 and 37 at opposite endsthereof, and in the present illustration spacer member 34 is solidcylindrical in shape. End surface 36 is secured to one of the flangemembers, in particular to portion 28 of flange 26, and end surface 37 isdisposed in a plane perpendicular to the plane of base 24. According toa preferred mode of the present invention, spacer member 34 is a pieceof wood dowel having a length of one-half inch and a diameter of onehalf inch.

Device 10 of the present, invention finally comprises a pin member 40secured to andextending from spacer member 34 in a direction away fromand generally perpendicular to the plane of the one board on which clipmember 22 is fitted, and pin member 40 is adapted to be driven or pushedinto the surface of the other board. Pin member 40 extends outwardlyfrom end surface 37 of spacer member and at a right angle to end surface37, and pin member 40 terminates in a sharp, pointed tip 41. Accordingto a preferred form of the present invention, pin member 40 is a numberseventeen nail, and the exposed portion of pin 40 extending out fromsurface 37 is five sixteenths inch in length.

Device of the present invention is used in the fol lowing manner. Clipmember 22 is grasped by hand with the thumb contacting one flange andone or more fingers contacting the other flange, and then clip member 22is moved into place fitting on the edge of one of the canvas boards. Inparticular, clip member 22 is moved into place with the end having tabs30, 31 receiving the edge of the canvas board first. Clip member 22 ismoved or slid onto the edge of the board in a manner such that base 24is moved or pushed along generally parallel to the edge of the boarduntil the entire length of clip member 22 is fitted on the edge of theboard. When this has been done, device 10 is in position on one of theboards as shown in FIGS. 1-4. Then the board having device 10 is held orsupported while the other board is brought in proximity thereto, withthe corners of the one board aligned with the corners of the otherboard. The boards are pushed toward each other so that pin member 40 isdriven into the surface of the other board close to the edge thereof. Asa result, the two boards are joined together at or adjacent one cornerof each and spaced apart a distance equal to the length of spacer member34. This procedure is repeated with additional devices at the remainingaligned corners, in particular a device 10 first is applied to one boardby fitting clip member 22 onto the edge thereof and then pin 40 isdriven into the surface of the other board near the edge. As shown inFIG. 1, with two boards 11 and 12 of substantially the same size, thisis done with four devices 10 one at each of the four aligned corners.

When boards of different sizes and shapes are joined, device 10 will notbe installed at aligned corners in all instances as illustrated in FIGS.24. Device 10 works equally .well with clip member 22 applied to eitherboard, and when clip 22 is fitted on the board having the freshlypainted surface, spacer 34 and pin 40 will be adjacent the paintedsurface and extending out therefrom. It may be desirable to alternatethe orientation of devices 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1. When the boardsare to be separated, they simply are pulled apart to withdraw pin 40from the one board and then clip member 22 is pushed along the edge ofthe other board until it is removed.

FIG. 8 shows in further detail a device 10 as it would appear inposition joining two canvas boards, for example boards 13 and 14 asshown in FIG. 2. Board 13 has a canvas 45 streched over one surfacethereof, wrapped around the edge thereof, and fastened to the othersurface of the board by a plurality of nails or tacks, one of which isdesignated 46. In addition, board 13 like most canvas boards in currentuse is provided with a peripheral lip on each surface thereof, inparticular lips 48, 49 shown in FIG. 8, to space the canvas from theboard so that a ridge does not appear when the board is framed.Similarly board 14 has a canvas 50 streched over one surface, wrappedaround the edge and fastened by nails 52 to the other surface, and board14 is provided with peripheral lips 54, 55..

According to the present invention, flanges 25, 26 of clip member 22 aredisposed so that each defines with base member 24 an angle less thanninety degrees. This enhances the firmness with which clip member 22grips the edge of a board, in particular the inwardly extending flanges25, 26 grip the board behind the peripheral lips, and this prevents clipmember 22 from slipping off the board in a direction perpendicular tothe board edge surface. Also according to the-present invention, one ofthe flanges such as flange 26 is provided with a portion 28 disposed ata right angle to base 24 so that spacer 34 and pin member 40 extendperpendicular to the plane of the board. This is important to provide aneffective joining of two boards.

Clip member 22 of device 10 can be formed of flexible or spring stockmaterial, such as sheet steel or tin having a thickness of approximately0.0l2-0.0l4 inch, which is bent over on itself to provide flanges 25, 26with smooth edges. By way of example, clip member 22 is about two andfive-eighths inches long, and each flange 25, 26 is about one-half inchwide. It is important that flanges 25, 26 have a relatively small width,such as about one-half inch, so that when device 10 is installed pinmember 40 will piece the canvas of the one board near the edge portionwhich later may be covered by a frame. The head of the nail providingpin member 40 can be soldered in between the bends forming flange 26 andat portion 28. When spacer member 34 is in the form of a wooden dowel,it simply may be driven onto pin 40 and up against flange portion 28.

It is therefore apparent that the present invention accomplishes itsintended objects. One canvas board hav ing a freshly painted surface isjoined by device 10 of the present invention, in particular a pluralityof such devices, to another board in spaced, substantially parallelrelation. The painted surface is protected as the two boards are carriedor otherwise transported from place to place as well as while the boardsare being stored when not in use. Device 10 is effective in joining twoboards and at the same time is easy to install or apply. The effectiveand firm gripping action of channel member 22 on one board, which iseasy to apply by virtue of tabs 30, 31, combines with the easy joiningof pin member 40 to the other board. Device 10 is relatively simple inconstruction, easy and economical to manufacture, and is capable ofjoining boards of both the same and different sizes and shapes.

While a single embodiment of the present invention has been describedwith specificity, this has been done by way of illustration, notlimitation.

1. A device for joining one canvas board having a freshly paintedsurface to another board in spaced, substantially parallel relationthereto and protecting the freshly painted surface, said devicecomprising:

a a clip member adapted to be fitted over an edge of one of said boardsso as to grip said one board adjacent the edge thereof, said clip memberhaving a base portion disposed generally parallel to the edge of saidone board and at least one flange extending from said base portion andalong the surface of said one board when said clip member is fitted onthe edge of said one board;

b a spacer member on said flange of said clip member and disposed so asto extend in a direction away from and generally perpendicular to theplane of said one board when said clip member is fitted on the edge ofsaid one board, said spacer member being elongated and having an outerend surface disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the planeof said base; and

c a pin member extending out from said end surface of said spacer memberin a direction away from and generally perpendicular to the plane ofsaid one board and adapted to be driven into said other board so thatsaid boards are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to thelength of said spacer member;

d whereby said canvas board having the freshly painted surface can bejoined to said other board by a plurality of said devices atcorresponding locations spaced around said boards.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said clip member comprises achannel member having a base and a pair of flange members extending fromsaid base, the distance between said flange members measured adjacentsaid base being not less than the thickness of said canvas boardsmeasured at the peripheral edge thereof.

3. A device for joining one canvas board having a freshly paintedsurface to another board in spaced, substantially parallel relationthereto and protecting the freshly painted surface, said devicecomprising:

a a clip member adapted to be fitted over an edge of one of said boards,said clip member comprising a channel member having a base and a pair offlange members extending from said base, the distance between saidflange members measured adjacent said-base being not less than thethickness of said canvas board measured at the peripheral edge thereof;

b a spacer member mounted on said clip member and disposed so as toextend in a direction away from and generally perpendicular to the planeof said one board when said clip member is fitted on the edge of saidone board, said spacer member being elongated and having planar,mutually parallel end surfaces at opposite ends thereof, one of said endsurfaces being secured to one of said flange members and the other ofsaid end surfaces being dis posed in a plane perpendicular to the planeof said base; and

c a pin member secured to and extending from said spacer member in adirection away from and generally perpendicular to the plane of said oneboard and adapted to be driven into said other board;

d whereby said canvas board having the freshly painted surface can bejoined to said other board by a plurality of said devices atcorresponding locations spaced around said boards.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said pin member extendsoutwardly from said other end surface of said spacer member and at aright angle to said other end surface. 7

5. A device according to claim 2, wherein the comer of each flange atone end of said clip member is bent outwardly to facilitate fitting saidclip member onto the edge of said board.

6. A device according to claim 2, wherein each of said flange members isdisposed so as to define with said base member an angle less than ninetydegrees.

7. A device for joining one canvas board having a freshly paintedsurface to another board in spaced, substantially parallel relationthereto and protecting the freshly painted surface, said devicecomprising:

a a clip member adapted to be fitted over an edge of one of said boards,said clip member comprising a channel member having a base and a pair offlange members extending from said base, the distance between saidflange members measured adjacent said base being not less than thethickness of said canvas board measured at the peripheral edge thereof,each of said flange members being disposed so as to define with saidbase member an angle less than ninety degrees;

b a spacer member mounted on said clip member and disposed so as toextend in a direction away from and generally perpendicular to the planeof said one board when said clip member is fitted on the edge of saidone board;

0 one of said flange members being formed with a portion between theends thereof disposed so as to define with said base member an angle ofninety degrees and said spacer member being secured to said flangeportion; and

d a pin member secured to and extending from said spacer member in adirection away from and generally perpendicular to the plane of said oneboard and adapted to be driven into said other board;

e whereby said canvas board having the freshly painted surface can bejoined to said other board by a plurality of said devices atcorresponding locations spaced around said boards.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein said spacer member iselongated and has planar, mutually parallel end surfaces at oppositeends thereof, one of said end surfaces being secured to said flangeportion and the other of said end surfaces being disposed in a planeperpendicular to the plane of said base.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein said pin member extendsoutwardly from said other end surface of said spacer member and at aright angle to said other end surface.

10. A device according to claim 6, wherein the corner of each flange atone end of said clip member is bent outwardly to facilitate fitting saidclip member onto the edge of said board.

1. A device for joining one canvas board having a freshly paintedsurface to another board in spaced, substantially parallel relationthereto and protecting the freshly painted surface, said devicecomprising: a a clip member adapted to be fitted over an edge of one ofsaid boards so as to grip said one board adjacent the edge thereof, saidclip member having a base portion disposed generally parallel to theedge of said one board and at least one flange extending from said baseportion and along the surface of said one board when said clip member isfitted on the edge of said one board; b a spacer member on said flangeof said clip member and disposed so as to extend in a direction awayfrom and generally perpendicular to the plane of said one board whensaid clip member is fitted on the edge of said one board, said spacermember being elongated and having an outer end surface disposed in aplane substantially perpendicular to the plane of said base; and c a pinmember extending out from said end surface of said spacer member in adirection away from and generally perpendicular to the plane of said oneboard and adapted to be driven into said other board so that said boardsare spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the length of saidspacer member; d whereby said canvas board having the freshly paintedsurface can be joined to said other board by a plurality of said devicesat corresponding locations spaced around said boards.
 2. A deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said clip member comprises a channelmember having a base and a pair of flange members extending from saidbase, the distance between said flange members measured adjacent saidbase being not less than the thickness of said canvas boards measured atthe peripheral edge thereof.
 3. A device for joining one canvas boardhaving a freshly painteD surface to another board in spaced,substantially parallel relation thereto and protecting the freshlypainted surface, said device comprising: a a clip member adapted to befitted over an edge of one of said boards, said clip member comprising achannel member having a base and a pair of flange members extending fromsaid base, the distance between said flange members measured adjacentsaid base being not less than the thickness of said canvas boardmeasured at the peripheral edge thereof; b a spacer member mounted onsaid clip member and disposed so as to extend in a direction away fromand generally perpendicular to the plane of said one board when saidclip member is fitted on the edge of said one board, said spacer memberbeing elongated and having planar, mutually parallel end surfaces atopposite ends thereof, one of said end surfaces being secured to one ofsaid flange members and the other of said end surfaces being disposed ina plane perpendicular to the plane of said base; and c a pin membersecured to and extending from said spacer member in a direction awayfrom and generally perpendicular to the plane of said one board andadapted to be driven into said other board; d whereby said canvas boardhaving the freshly painted surface can be joined to said other board bya plurality of said devices at corresponding locations spaced aroundsaid boards.
 4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said pin memberextends outwardly from said other end surface of said spacer member andat a right angle to said other end surface.
 5. A device according toclaim 2, wherein the corner of each flange at one end of said clipmember is bent outwardly to facilitate fitting said clip member onto theedge of said board.
 6. A device according to claim 2, wherein each ofsaid flange members is disposed so as to define with said base member anangle less than ninety degrees.
 7. A device for joining one canvas boardhaving a freshly painted surface to another board in spaced,substantially parallel relation thereto and protecting the freshlypainted surface, said device comprising: a a clip member adapted to befitted over an edge of one of said boards, said clip member comprising achannel member having a base and a pair of flange members extending fromsaid base, the distance between said flange members measured adjacentsaid base being not less than the thickness of said canvas boardmeasured at the peripheral edge thereof, each of said flange membersbeing disposed so as to define with said base member an angle less thanninety degrees; b a spacer member mounted on said clip member anddisposed so as to extend in a direction away from and generallyperpendicular to the plane of said one board when said clip member isfitted on the edge of said one board; c one of said flange members beingformed with a portion between the ends thereof disposed so as to definewith said base member an angle of ninety degrees and said spacer memberbeing secured to said flange portion; and d a pin member secured to andextending from said spacer member in a direction away from and generallyperpendicular to the plane of said one board and adapted to be driveninto said other board; e whereby said canvas board having the freshlypainted surface can be joined to said other board by a plurality of saiddevices at corresponding locations spaced around said boards.
 8. Adevice according to claim 7, wherein said spacer member is elongated andhas planar, mutually parallel end surfaces at opposite ends thereof, oneof said end surfaces being secured to said flange portion and the otherof said end surfaces being disposed in a plane perpendicular to theplane of said base.
 9. A device according to claim 8, wherein said pinmember extends outwardly from said other end surface of said spacermember and at a right angle to said other end surface.
 10. A deviceaccording to claim 6, wherein the corner of each flange at one end ofsaid clip member iS bent outwardly to facilitate fitting said clipmember onto the edge of said board.